Join us this year as we hike into New Mexico’s historic past! Between 1933 and 1942, a 20-acre site in southeastern New Mexico, now known as Baca Campground (a Lincoln National Forest campground), developed over three occupational periods. First was the construction and occupation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp Saturnino Baca, DF-17-N. The camp was condemned for winter use by the U.S. Forest Service, so it was abandoned after only one summer, during 1934. The camp buildings then sat unoccupied until 1935, when it was discovered by the National Youth Administration, and used to create one of the nation’s first Unemployed Girls Education Camps. The camp was occupied year-round from then until 1940 when, once again, the camp was abandoned. It was turned into a concentration camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese railroad workers for the Atchison-Topeka, and Santa Fe rail lines, living in Clovis, were run out of town. Two families and a number of single men – a total of 32 individuals – were taken to Camp Baca and detained “for their protection.”

This project will be a metal-detector survey of Camp Baca, and will be the third and final remote-sensing survey performed at the site. As such, we are looking for volunteers who have metal detectors, want to share their expertise, and are willing to help us put the site “back on the map” and reveal its secrets!

Please indicate on your application if you have and know how to use a metal detector – it is the one thing required for participation.

The Lincoln National Forest has a vast wealth of both pre-historic and historic sites, from rock art to Ft. Stanton, and railroad features constructed in 1898. During your hours “off the clock,” volunteers will have the opportunity and are encouraged to visit some of those sites – we hope to see you this summer!

Number of openings:10

Special skills:Volunteers must be able to bring a metal-detector (a couple working as a team need only bring one); previous metal-detecting experience required; previous archaeological survey/remote sensing, mapping, artifact identification (specifically historic, railroad, and/or Japanese), and/or related experience helpful, but not required

Minimum age:18 years old

Facilities:Tent and small (pop-up/trailer) RV camping provided at the site (it is a campground) at no charge; vault toilets; no hook-ups; Capitan is a limited-service community with stores and restaurants; volunteers responsible for own personal camping equipment, meals, water, and transportation